Arrangement for adjustable split scoring of seal and bottom score of an envelope of a bag blank

ABSTRACT

An apparatus whereby the seal score and bottom score is made on the seal and bottom flaps respectively of envelopes or bag blanks. The apparatus provides for split scoring and an adjustment for different size envelopes or bag blanks. Size changes are accomplished by a running adjustment of the one scorer, relative to the other scorer which remains fixed. The construction is such that the pull-out segment engages each envelope blank at a precise location so that the distance on the envelope blank for the first scoring operation thereon is always predetermined. Thus, a fine running adjustment is permitted along with quick size changes for envelopes or bag blanks. The scoring knives also may be mounted on a common cylinder.

United States Patent Helm [54] ARRANGEMENT FOR ADJUSTABLE SPLIT SCORING OF SEAL AND BOTTOM SCORE OF AN ENVELOPE OF A BAG BLANK [72] Inventor: Herbert W. Helm, Hollidaysburg, Pa.

[73] Assignee: F. L. Smithe Machine Company, Inc.,

Duncansville, Pa.

[22] Filed: Sept. 17,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 72,926

83/322, 83/911, 93/58.4, 93/59 CE, 93/62 [51] Int. Cl. ..B3lb 1/14, B26d 3/08. [58] Fieldol'Search ..83/10l2, 322,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,946 2/1939 Engel "83/12 #1 7TT-" l c T r r i 'i r rr' i' r"' i"r"i t' 1 51 May 23, 1972 Pn'mary ExaminerAndrew R. J uhasz Assistant Examiner-David R. Melton Attomey-Nolte & Nolte ABSTRACT An apparatus whereby the seal score and bottom score is made on the seal and bottom flaps respectively of envelopes or bag blanks. The apparatus provides for split scoring and an adjustment for different size envelopes or bag blanks. Size changes are accomplished by a running adjustment of the one scorer, relative to the other scorer which remains fixed. The construction is such that the pull-out segment. engages each envelope blank at a precise location so that the distance on the envelope blank for the first scoring operation thereon is always predetermined. Thus, a fine running adjustment is permitted along with quick size changes for envelopes or bag blanks. The scoring knives also may be mounted on a common cylinder.

7 Chins, 5 Drawing figures Patented May 23, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR @W (LWM ATTORNEYS Patented May 23, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M Rfl W Ma ARRANGEMENT FOR ADJUSTABLE SPLIT SCORING OF SEAL AND BOTTOM SCORE OF AN ENVELOPE OF A BAG BLANK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the art of envelope manufacturing, the seal and bottom scores for the seal and bottom flaps respectively are impressed by means of a scoring cylinder that also carries a pull-out segment which is adjustable with the bottom flap scoring blade. The pull-out segment advances the blank out of the aligner into the scoring station. As seen in the prior art construction shown in US Pat. No. 3,153,533 to Novick the aligner pins for the envelope blanks travel at a slower rate of speed than the speed of the pull-out segment and the scorer blades. Thus, a size change of the envelopes or blanks requires retiming of the aligner pins with respect to the seal score impression, as well as a readjustment of the sidewise pin spacing. The aligner pins require readjustment of the sidewise pin spacing. The aligner pins require readjustment since the chains run at a taper in order to gradually align the blanks laterally whenever the blank size is changed. Accordingly, the point of final alignment by the aligner pins will also change. It should be clear.

that the known arrangement for changing the scoring of the seal and bottom flaps require a shut-down of the machinery and the adjustment of various interrelated component parts of the arrangement prior to restarting the mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for split scoring of the seal and bottom score of an envelope or a bag blank, which eliminates a series of adjustments in order to provide for size change.

It is another object of the present invention to permit quick size change of envelope or bag blank and a fine running adjustment between the fixed seal score line and the adjustable bottom score line of an envelope, or the like.

It is a further object of the resent invention to provide for an automatic adjustment for pre-programmed envelope size or feedback corrections of seal to bottom score distance from the actual envelope or bag to be manufactured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for split scoring the seal and bottom score of an envelope in whichan additional shaft is provided which carries a pull-out segment and seal score for the envelope. This segment is timed to grip each and any size blank at a fixed distance from its determined seal score line thereby fixing the final line-up point and completely eliminating the adjustments required in the prior art constructions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a seal scoring drum having pull-out segments together with a counter roll preferably of urethane, against which the sea score blade works.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the adjustable split scoring apparatus for envelopes constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the various dimensions of the location of the initial engagement of the pull-out segment, the seal score line and the bottom score line, and in which both the bottom scoring knife and the seal scoring knife are mounted on a common cylinder;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the common cylinder mounting both the bottom scoring knife and the seal scoring knife.

Referring especially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a line of unfoldedenvelope blanks E are moved from an envelope making machine (not shown) to the apparatus for scoring said envelope blanks by means of a conveyor and an aligning mechanism referred to generally by the numeral 10 constituting aligning chains 12 having aligning pins 14 secured thereto. The aligning chains 12 pass over sprockets l6 and the pins 14 constantly converge as they move in the right-hand direction towards the scoring apparatus. The foregoing structure is prior art and forms no part of the presentv invention, having been disclosed in the above-mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,153,533 to Novick. It is also within the scope of the present invention to utilize a rotary aligner apparatus with the novel scoring apparatus instead of the above-described chain aligning device.

The scoring apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 constitutes a rotatable roll 18 rotating in the direction of the arrow and having a pull-out segment 20 preferably of steel, and a knife 22 fixed a predetermined distance A from the leading edge 20a of the pull-out segment 20. Thus, as seen inFIGS. l and 2, the edge 20a engages the envelope blank at the point R and moves the same through the scoring apparatus until the fixed knife 22 rotates to a position to engage the envelope E at line S and make the'seal score line. The rotatable roll 18 works against the backing urethane or metal roll 24 in a well known manner. Accordingly, it should be noted that there is no need to adjust the envelope aligning devices for different size envelopes inasmuch as the distance A between the pick-up of the pull-out segment and the first scoring operation is always the same.

Spaced from the rotatable roll 18 is another rotatable roll 26 which similarly works against urethane or metal backing roll 28. Roll 26 is provided with a feed 30 and a knife 32. The knife 32 is adjustable for different envelope or bag sizes and a position thereof is selected so that the knife 32 is timed to rotate to a precise position determined by A whereby the bottom score line T is made after or before the seal score line S has been impressed on the envelope blank E. It should again be noted that the seal score line on the envelope blank is always fixed with relation to the point R on the envelope blank while the bottom score line T may be adjusted for different lengths between score lines S and T. The fixed distance A between point R and seal score line S is determined by the specific circumference of the roll 18. This distance A between T and the axis of roll 26 determines the bottom score line T and is adjustable. The well-known side scoring rolls 34 are mounted on rotatable shaft 36 whereby side scores U are impressed on the envelope blank E against the backing roll 35. Consequently, the scoring of the side flaps a, bottom flap b and seal flap c are made by the present apparatus.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seal scoring blade 22 is fixed, but a running adjustment of the bottom scoring blade 32 can be accomplished by the present apparatus. The split scor ing operation constructed in accordance with the present invention permits not only quick size changes and the fine running adjustment between the bottom and seal score lines, but also lends itself to automatic adjustment for pre-programmed envelope size, or feedback corrections of seal to bottom score distance from the actual envelope or bag being produced.

FIGS. 3-5 disclose another embodiment'of the present invention in which like parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 bear the same reference numerals. In this embodiment a rotatable roll 38 is provided having a pull-out segment 40. The roll 38 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction against urethane or metal backing roll 42 in the well-known manner. Spaced from the roll 38 is a rotatable roll 44 which is a common cylinder mounting a feed part 46, and spatially located on the periphery of the roll 44 is a seal scoring blade 48 and an adjustable bottom scoring blade 50, both mounted on shaft 56. As seen in FIG. 5, the blade 48 is fixed along the circumferential periphery of the roll 44 in any well-known manner, for example by means of screws 52 in countersunk holes 54. Thus, the dimension D shown in FIG. 4 may be selectively changed in order to alter the distance between the seal score line and the bottom score line when a size adjustment to accommodate different size envelopes must be made.

It should also be observed that roll 44 rotates in the direction C as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this embodiment, the

bottom scoring blade 50 will make the initial score on the envelope and thereafter the seal scoring blade scores the envelope at the desired precise location thereon. However, as stated above, the pull-out segment 40 engages each envelope at a predetermined location and the distance between the initial contact of the segment 40 and the seal scoring operation on each of the envelopes is always the same.

I claim:

1. An adjustable split scoring apparatus for envelope or bag blank seal and bottom scoring comprising means for conveying envelope blanks, a pair of spaced rotating rolls, one of said rolls being provided with a pull-out segment for each of said envelopes, a pair of spaced scoring blades, means mounting said scoring blades for rotation, said scoring blades being adjustable relative to each other, said pull-out segment being mounted relative to one of said scoring blades whereby a fixed distance is continually maintained between the point of initial contact of said segment with said envelope and one of the scoring lines on the envelope, and said scoring blades making the spaced seal and bottom scores on each of said envelopes.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pull-out segment has at least an outer surface thereof constituted of a resilient material.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said outer surface of said pull-out segment is urethane.

4. An adjustable scoring apparatus for envelope or bag blank seal and bottom scores comprising means for conveying envelope blanks, at least one rotating roll having a pair of spaced scoring blades adjustable relative to each other, said conveying means comprising a rotatable pull-out segment being mounted relative to one of said scoring blades whereby a fixed distance is continually maintained between the point of initial contact of said segment with said envelope and one of the scoring lines, said blades making the spaced seal and bottom scores on each of said envelopes.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a urethane backing roll for each of said spaced rotating rolls, said backing roll positioned opposing said rotating roll having said fixed blade. t v

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the point of initial engagement of said pull-out seg-' ment and the seal score on said envelope is fixed and constant.

7. An adjustable split scoring apparatus for envelope or bag blank seal and bottom scoring comprising means for conveying a multiplicity of envelopes in a linear path, a pair of spaced rotating rolls, one of said rolls being provided with a pull-out segment for each of said envelopes and having a fixed blade, and the other of said rolls being provided with an adjustable blade for different envelope sizes, one of said blades making said bottom score and the other of said blades making said sea score on each envelope. 

1. An adjustable split scoring apparatus for envelope or bag blank seal and bottom scoring comprising means for conveying envelope blanks, a pair of spaced rotating rolls, one of said rolls being provided with a pull-out segment for each of said envelopes, a pair of spaced scoring blades, means mounting said scoring blades for rotation, said scoring blades being adjustable relative to each other, said pull-out segment being mounted relative to one of said scoring blades whereby a fixed distance is continually maintained between the point of initial contact of said segment with said envelope and one of the scoring lines on the envelope, and said scoring blades making the spaced seal and bottom scores on each of said envelopes.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pull-out segment has at least an outer surface thereof constituted of a resilient material.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said outer surface of said pull-out segment is urethane.
 4. An adjustable scoring apparatus for envelope or bag blank seal and bottom scores comprising means for conveying envelope blanks, at least one rotating roll having a pair of spaced scoring blades adjustable relative to each other, said conveying means comprising a rotatable pull-out segment being mounted relative to one of said scoring blades whereby a fixed distance is continually maintained between the point of initial contact of said segment with said envelope and one of the scoring lines, said blades making the spaced seal and bottom scores on each of said envelopes.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a urethane backing roll for each of said spaced rotating rolls, said backing roll positioned opposing said rotating roll having said fixed blade.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distancE between the point of initial engagement of said pull-out segment and the seal score on said envelope is fixed and constant.
 7. An adjustable split scoring apparatus for envelope or bag blank seal and bottom scoring comprising means for conveying a multiplicity of envelopes in a linear path, a pair of spaced rotating rolls, one of said rolls being provided with a pull-out segment for each of said envelopes and having a fixed blade, and the other of said rolls being provided with an adjustable blade for different envelope sizes, one of said blades making said bottom score and the other of said blades making said seal score on each envelope. 